Monolithic 1 x 8 DWDM Silicon Optical Transmitter Using an Arrayed-Waveguide Grating and Electro-Absorption Modulators for Switch Fabrics in Intra-Data-Center Interconnects

Abstract

In this study, we propose an eight-channel monolithic optical transmitter using silicon electro-absorption modulators (EAMs) based on free-carrier injection by Schottky junctions. The transmitter consists of a 1 x 8 silicon arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) and eight 500-mu m-long EAMs on a 5.41 x 2.84 mm(2) footprint. It generates eight-channel dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) outputs with 1.33 nm channel spacing (Delta lambda) in the C-band from a single broadband light source and modulates each channel with over 3 dB modulation depth at 6 V peak-to-peak. The experimental results showed that the feasibility of a homogeneous silicon DWDM transmitter with a single light source for switch fabrics in intra-data-center interconnects over heterogeneous integration with regards to more complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) compatibility.